Australia’s home international cricket season for 2024-25 kicked off on September 19, with the all-conquering women’s team registering a confident win over arch-rivals New Zealand. With the domestic season now upon us, the spotlight turns to the 29th edition of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), set to begin on September 24. From squads and fixtures to broadcast details and format, including a brief tournament history, here’s everything you need to know about the One-Day competition.
History:
First played in the 1996-97 season, New South Wales claimed the championship in the final against Victoria and successfully defended their title for the next five seasons. Victoria, having made three final appearances by then, finally clinched their maiden title in the 2002-03 season. New South Wales regained their title the following season, with Victoria doing the same in 2004-05. New South Wales then showcased their dominance by breaking their own record with ten consecutive titles.
South Australia, the inaugural champions in 2015-16, halted New South Wales’ run, but New South Wales bounced back to complete a three-peat from 2016-17 to 2018-19. Western Australia won their first championship in 2019-20, followed by Queensland in 2020-21, and Tasmania in 2021-22, who also completed a three-peat and enter the 2024-25 season as the defending champions. With 20 championship wins in 28 seasons, the dominant New South Wales last reached the final in 2019-20.
2024-25 domestic season:
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Cricket Australia announced changes to the women’s domestic program, including a reduction in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL)—the premier Twenty20 (T20) competition—and the introduction of a T20 Spring Challenge. This initiative aims to make up for the matches lost in the WBBL while maintaining opportunities for emerging talents.
The 29th edition of the WNCL will commence on September 24 and pause on October 7 for the T20 Spring Challenge, which starts on October 11. Following this, the landmark 10th WBBL will open on October 27, with the WNCL resuming on December 14 and the final scheduled for March 2.
Format:
The 2024-25 WNCL season will follow a double round-robin format, with each of the seven teams playing every other twice, totaling 12 games per team. The top two teams on the table will advance to the final.
WNCL squads:
Tasmania Tigers – TBA
New South Wales Breakers – TBA
Victoria – TBA
South Australia Scorpions – TBA
Western Australia – TBA
Queensland Fire – TBA
Australian Capital Territory Meteors – TBA
Schedule:
| DATE | MATCHES | VENUE | TIME (IST) |
| 24-Sep-24 | Western Australia v Tasmania Tigers | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 AM |
| 26-Sep-24 | Western Australia v Tasmania Tigers | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 AM |
27-Sep-24 |
Queensland Fire v New South Wales | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM |
| South Australia Scorpions v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide | 6:00 AM | |
29-Sep-24 |
Queensland Fire v New South Wales | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM |
| South Australia Scorpions v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide | 6:00 AM | |
| 03-Oct-24 | Queensland Fire v Western Australia | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM |
04-Oct-24 |
New South Wales v Victoria | North Sydney Oval, Sydney | 5:00 AM |
| South Australia Scorpions v Tasmania Tigers | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 6:00 AM | |
| 05-Oct-24 | Queensland Fire v Western Australia | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM |
06-Oct-24 |
New South Wales v Victoria | North Sydney Oval, Sydney | 4:30 AM |
| South Australia Scorpions v Tasmania Tigers | Karen Rolton Oval, Brisbane | 5:00 AM |
–T20 SEASON BREAK–
| 14-Dec-24 | Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 4:30 AM |
| 16-Dec-24 | Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 4:30 AM |
20-Dec-24 |
Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Queensland Fire | Solar Park, Canberra | 4:30 AM |
| Victoria v South Australia Scorpions | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | 4:30 AM | |
22-Dec-24 |
Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Queensland Fire | Solar Park, Canberra | 4:30 AM |
| Victoria v South Australia Scorpions | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | 4:30 AM |
–CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR BREAK–
12-Jan-25 |
Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Victoria | Solar Park, Canberra | 4:30 AM |
| Queensland Fire v Tasmania Tigers | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM | |
| Western Australia v New South Wales | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 AM | |
14-Jan-24 |
Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Victoria | Solar Park, Canberra | 4:30 AM |
| Queensland Fire v Tasmania Tigers | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:00 AM | |
| Western Australia v New South Wales | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 PM | |
| 27-Jan-25 | Victoria v Western Australia | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | 4:30 AM |
| 28-Jan-25 | South Australia Scorpions v Queensland Fire | Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide | 5:00 AM |
| 29-Jan-25 | Victoria v Western Australia | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | 4:30 AM |
30-Jan-25 |
Tasmania Tigers v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 4:30 AM |
| South Australia Scorpions v Queensland Fire | Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide | 5:00 AM | |
| 01-Feb-25 | Tasmania Tigers v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 4:30 AM |
07-Feb-25 |
New South Wales v South Australia Scorpions | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney | 4:30 AM |
| Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Western Australia | Solar Park, Canberra | ||
| Victoria v Queensland Fire | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | ||
09-Feb-25 |
New South Wales v South Australia Scorpions | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney | 4:30 AM |
| Australian Capital Territory Meteors v Western Australia | Solar Park, Canberra | ||
| Victoria v Queensland Fire | CitiPower Center, Melbourne | ||
19-Feb-25 |
New South Wales v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney | 4:30 AM |
| Tasmania Tigers v Victoria | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 4:30 AM | |
| Western Australia v South Australia Scorpions | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 AM | |
21-Feb-25 |
New South Wales v Australian Capital Territory Meteors | Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney | 4:30 AM |
| Western Australia v South Australia Scorpions | WACA Ground, Perth | 7:30 AM | |
| Tasmania Tigers v Victoria | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 8:30 AM | |
| 02-Mar-25 | TBC v TBC (Final) | TBC | 4:30 AM |
Broadcast:
All games of the 2024-25 season will be streamed live and for free for fans in Australia on cricket.com.au and will also be available on Kayo Sports.